Strong Towns Richmond Hill Marks First Anniversary with Holiday Gathering and Plans for the Year Ahead
RICHMOND HILL — December 14 — The Strong Towns Richmond Hill local conversation group marked a pair of milestones on Sunday evening, celebrating both its first birthday and its first Christmas gathering with a potluck that mixed food, conversation, and civic curiosity. The meeting took place at FlexSpace co-working space, thanks to generous support of Shadi & Lena, FlexSpace owners.
Members and supporters came together for a festive evening that reflected the grassroots spirit of the group. Tables filled quickly with homemade dishes and shared drinks, underscoring the community-first ethos that has defined Strong Towns Richmond Hill since its founding a year ago.
Beyond the social atmosphere, the evening stayed true to the group’s mission of engaging residents in thoughtful discussions about the future of their town. Participants took part in a lighthearted but purposeful game featuring puzzles inspired by urban planning challenges in Richmond Hill, all framed through Strong Towns principles such as safety, incremental change, and people-focused design. The activity sparked laughter as well as debate, turning complex planning ideas into accessible and engaging conversation.
As the afternoon wound down, attention turned to the year ahead. Members discussed priorities for 2026, including expanding outreach, hosting more public conversations, and continuing to explore local issues such as transportation, land use, and neighborhood resilience. The discussion reflected a growing confidence within the group, which has evolved from a small gathering of interested residents into a consistent local voice over the past year.
With its first year behind it, Strong Towns Richmond Hill closed the meeting in a celebratory mood, looking ahead to another year of community-driven dialogue — and reaffirming that meaningful conversations about city-building can begin around a shared table.